We get a lot of questions about dictation in Clicker and DocsPlus. For many learners, dictating is a great tool for reducing cognitive load in the writing process, especially those who find typing or handwriting challenging.

With all the great feedback we’ve been getting about the new 'Dictate to Document' button in Clicker Writer, we wanted to share all the ways that dictation can work with our writing support tools.

Dictation in Clicker Writer

In Clicker Writer, you can find the ‘Dictate to Document’ button in the ‘Voice Input’ drop-down menu. Alternatively, if using the on-screen keyboard, you can click the microphone button to enable dictation.

With either method, children can use the dictate function while also seeing the relevant Clicker Set at the bottom of the screen. This means they can take advantage of the supportive writing grids, even if they struggle with typing.

Dictation in the DocsPlus App

As with Clicker Writer, you can find the dictate button on the on-screen keyboard. Students who are entitled to additional support in exams can use this feature as an alternative to a scribe.

Letting students practise using the function in both normal classroom tasks, and in Exam Mode for mocks and exams, is a great way to ensure that access arrangements align with their normal way of working.

Dictation in Clicker and DocsPlus Desktop

In our desktop products, dictation works alongside the built-in features of the device. In Windows, you can open the ‘Windows Dictation’ dialogue by pressing the Windows logo + H keys together on your physical keyboard.

Alternatively, if you are using the Windows on-screen keyboard, simply click the Microphone key. For further information please see Microsoft’s support article which offers comprehensive advice on using this feature.

On Mac, you open the dictation function by using the Microphone key on the keyboard, or by setting up a keyboard shortcut to enable dictation. Apple’s support article gives further details about how to do this. 

Once dictation has been activated, you will see your text appearing seamlessly in your Clicker or DocsPlus Document as you speak the words.

Pro tip for Desktop Users: Turn off speech feedback in Clicker or DocsPlus desktop settings if you are not using headphones. This will avoid distracting other learners.

Further help and advice

We're always on-hand to offer help and support for using Clicker and DocsPlus effectively throughout your subscription period.

For technical queries, you can contact our technical support team. For personalised advice on using Clicker or DocsPlus with your learners you can book a meeting with your Partnership Consultant.

If you need specific advice on using DocsPlus in exams, please book an exam support meeting.

And if you’re wondering how to do something in Clicker or DocsPlus and want a quick answer, you can review our helpful tutorial videos. These are separated into sections for the app and desktop versions: Clicker / DocsPlus.